Weekly Spotlight Challenge: Divine Nature

Before I give you this week's challenge, I am going to give you my overview on how I did on last week's challenge. Last week's challenge was faith. I did do a couple things to build my faith. Every morning and night I said my prayers. I really did try to connect with Heavenly Father while I was praying though, not just doing it to say I did it. I also tried to read the scriptures each night. (Although I admit I did miss a few nights.) While I read I tried to thoroughly study the scriptures though and not just read over the words. I also did a value experience in my personal progress book. So that is my weekly overview and I really think that my faith has grown, even if it is just a bit. Now comment and give me yours!

This weeks spotlight challenge is... divine nature! We as young women have a duty to develop our divine nature and that is exactly what we will be doing this week. For divine nature, I honestly think the best way to help develop that is by doing some of the value experiences. I have done a couple of them and they really do help you develop a divine nature. You can also make a list of virtues that you think are part of a woman's divine nature. Then chose one or two of them to work on this week. Ask your own mother or a leader what they did to develop divine nature when they were your age. Those are just a couple of ideas that you can do. If you don't like them, go ahead and make up your own way to develop divine nature!

Like last week, I will post stories of women developing divine nature or things that I have done to develop divine nature. (Although I will try to do more than last week!) Don't forget to give me last week's overview and don't forget your challenge this week! I will be helping develop my divine nature this week and will give my overview next week along with next week's challenge!

Amanda Barnes Smith, Woman of Amazing Faith

Amanda Barnes Smith was one of the early pioneers of the church. This woman was put through more trials in her life than most people. Amanda Barnes was happily married and living in Missouri as a saint with her husband and five children: Willard, age 13, Sardius, age 9, and twins, Alma and Alvira, age 4, and Ortensia, age 2. At the disaster of Haun's Mill, she lost her husband and Sardius and little Alma's hip was blown off. Willard had escaped into the woods and had gone back to the mill to see if there were any survivors. That's when he found little Alma.

Amanda Barnes Smith did not know what to do with little Alma, whose hip was completely gone. She was so devastated that she got down on her knees and began to plead with God, asking him what she should do. At that moment, she felt great peace and the seventh verse of "How Firm A Foundation" came into her mind.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, dessert to his foes

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake

I'll never, no never, no never forsake 

 That is when a miracle happened, she suddenly knew how to build her son a new hip. She was given the directions by Heavenly Father. Alma went on to walk again, lived a long and happy life and raised a family.

Amanda Barnes Smith lived out the rest of her years a very faithful person. Amanda Barnes Smith had faith that Heavenly Father could heal her son. Because of her faith, she was comforted by the holy ghost and Heavenly Father told her how to build her son a hip. She remained a faithful member of the church for the rest of her life.

Weekly Value Spotlight Challenge: Faith

This week, I would like to challenge you all to work on faith. You see, each week I am going to challenge you to work on one of the young women values. This week, I am going to challenge you to work on developing your faith. If you are working on your ten hour project for faith, you can work on that. You can do one or two of the value experiences in your personal progress book. Some easy ways to develop faith is daily prayer and scripture study. Look over conference talks or in the New Era or Ensign magazine. There are lots of ways you can develop your faith.

 Ask your parents or another adult what you can do to develop your faith. Ask them what experiences they had that has built their faith. If you haven't already, write down your testimony. Better yet, share your testimony with someone who does not belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or even with friends and family. During the week, I will post experiences I have had that have built my faith, or maybe a story of someone who had a lot of faith. I plan to also try and build my faith this week too. At the end of the week, I want you to report your progress, either as a comment or to someone. I will report my progress at the end of the week along with next week's challenge!